Archives Photograph Collection

Although this glass-plate negative had no information accompanying it when found, this image was most likely taken on the campus of Indiana University; part of the wood housing at extreme right was made from a crate which reads "Indiana University Bloomington Indiana".

The large disc in carved wooden case in background is a Toepler-Holtz or Voss Machine (an electrostatic induction device). This Voss Machine is most-likely the same Voss Machine purchased by Indiana University in 1884. The Leyden (or Leiden) jars on the table are storing static electricity generated by the Voss Machine (Leyden jars are an early form of a capacitor). To complete the connection between each jar, the jars are sitting on tin foil or some other metal.

Note how the jars are connected to the Voss Machine and what looks to be some type of electrostatic experiment in the wooden box at right.